The University of Central Arkansas officially turned the reins of the Sugar Bears basketball program over to Checola Seals on Friday. Seals, 33, takes over for Coach Ron Marvel, who announced his retirement Monday after 24 years as head coach of the team. Seals, a two-time All-American for Marvel, has been his asistant coach for the past five seasons. ?I?m proud that Checola is getting this … [Read more...]

The late Beulah Mann enrolled at the University of Central Arkansas, then Arkansas State Normal School, in the 1920s; a time when a higher education was a rare privilege for most, especially for women. She studied teacher education at the university and in 1922, earned her state teachers license. Education was important to Mann, so important, in fact, that on Wednesday, March 17, her estate … [Read more...]

Hundreds of students showed up for the first annual Lender Fair Thursday in East McCastlain Hall. Students had the opportunity to meet with new lenders who will be processing student loans for the fall semester. Starting in the fall, UCA will process student loans through the Federal Family Education Loan Program. This program will allow private lenders such as banks, credit unions and other … [Read more...]

The University of Central Arkansas may soon have more housing and better computer technology capabilities after the board of trustees authorized the administration to seek up to $21 million in bonds. Last fall the board approved a request by the university to seek $10 million for the construction of a new residence hall. This bond issue was combined, Tuesday, with another $11 million to cover a … [Read more...]

The University of Central Arkansas? student alumni group, Association of Future Alumni, brought home one-third of the six awards presented at the Association of Student Advancement Programs District 4 conference last weekend in San Marcos, Texas. UCA?s AFA adviser Jan Newcomer was recognized as an outstanding adviser and AFA president Melissa Nix, a UCA senior, received the outstanding student … [Read more...]

Where does a former British rock star go to seek solace after stardom? London? Paris? The beaches of Italy? For the past four years, former rocker Brian Bonhomme has chosen the road less traveled and has made Conway home. Dr. Bonhomme, visiting professor of history, was catapulted to fame in the early 80?s as the founding member and songwriter for the British band Roman Holliday. The group … [Read more...]

Earlier this month, Junior Bridget Rice tapped her way to first place in this year?s Miss UCA pageant and is keeping her feet warmed up in preparation for the Miss Arkansas pageant at the end of summer. ?I was so shocked that I won. Everybody was so nice, genuine, and talented. I would have been happy for any one of the other girls to win the title,? Rice said. Rice grew up practicing … [Read more...]

The University of Central Arkansas and the state of Arkansas lost a legend Monday when head women?s basketball coach Ron Marvel announced his retirement. Marvel, 60, is the winningest women's coach in Arkansas college basketball history with 489 victories in his 24 seasons at UCA. ?This was a very difficult decision,? said Marvel, ?but for myself and my family, it was the right decision. It … [Read more...]

Dr. Carolyn Williams, College of Education, recently received a $67,564 grant as part of a partnership between the university and the North Little Rock School District. The partnership is aimed at improving teacher and principal quality in accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act. Funding for the grant was provided by the U.S. Department of Education through the Arkansas Department of … [Read more...]

Kay Hinkle of Mountain View is the newest member of the University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees. By appointment of Gov. Mike Huckabee, Mrs. Hinkle will serve a seven-year term. She succeeds Dalda Womack who previously served for 14 years on the board. Hinkle, originally from Malvern, is a 1970 graduate of UCA with a degree in business. Extremely active in community affairs at … [Read more...]